Flyers manager Maddock dissects his first season

It has been a roller-coaster season for the Schaumburg Flyers.

The Flyers struggled with injuries and multiple roster moves in the first half and finished well out of the race.

But the second half has been slightly better. The Flyers pulled within 3 games of first place in the final week before dropping an 8-5 decision at home Monday to the Kansas T-Bones and former Flyers manager Andy McCauley.

The Flyers close the season with five road games at Joliet, including the season finale Sunday.

In this edited interview, Flyers manager Steve Maddock talks about his first year with the club, and …

Q. Has there been a difference in the second half?

A. We've definitely played better than we did the first, but still not as good as we should have. We gave away a lot of games.

The guys could have shut it down and coasted all the way, but the guys probably played the best ball they've played. It's nice to see the guys still working hard and doing what they need to do.

Q. What went wrong in the first half?

A. I think the main thing was we never could get anybody in the middle of the bullpen that could really come in and get us those middle innings. We went through a lot of pitchers just at that middle spot. Once we got Brandon Villafuerte, it all kind of fell in place for us. You've got to have a good bullpen in this league or you're going to be in trouble.

Q. So much was made of Fan Club being here again this year, and then it never arrived. Did that have any impact this season?

A. I don't think it mattered. We were all ready for it. Whatever reason it didn't, I don't know. I think they were looking forward to it, being on camera, an opportunity to be on TV or something. I think guys were kind of excited about it, get a little publicity out of it. Who knows? Maybe next year.

Q. Did you get an explanation why it didn't return?

A. Never knew anything about it, never asked. If it was here, we would have adjusted.

Q. Will you be back next season?

A. I plan on being back here. Everything's been great. I love it here. It's been the best place I've ever been in 15 years. They let me do my job. There's no interference. If I need anything, I can go in and talk to the front office. They take care of me and the players. I've got no complaints at all. It's been a lot of fun.

Q. Anything you'd like to do differently next season?

A. Win a lot more games (laughs). Obviously, I'd not like to go through so many players next year.

Q. Who's been the biggest surprise this season?

A. Probably Mike Rohde. He's a guy we brought in out of Illinois to be basically a utility player, a backup guy. Once we got him in the lineup, he hasn't been out of it since. He's hitting three-plus; he's doing a great job at second base for us.

For him to come here as a rookie and do what he has done, it's been outstanding. To me, he should be rookie of the year.

Q. Who would be the team's MVP?

A. I think Christian Snavely. He's been clutch all year long. He's played outstanding defense for us, hard worker, great guy to be with, great guy in the clubhouse, everyone likes him. He's just one of those guys you wish you had 20 of them. If I were to pick MVP, it would be him.